A new evacuation order has been issued for about 2,200 residents because of the Terrace Mountain fire north of Kelowna, B.C.
The stubborn blaze doubled in size overnight to 4,000 hectares, due to strong winds.
The evacuation order applies to residents living in the following areas:
- Caesar's Landing
- Ewing's Landing
- Nahun
- Valley of the Sun
- Muirallen Estates
- Estamont
- Aspen Shores
- Summersands
- La Casa
- Fintry Provincial Park and campground and Fintry Delta
- Killiney Beach
An evacuation centre has been set up at the Vernon Recreation Centre, 3310 37th Ave. in Vernon.
There are 175 firefighters and seven helicopters tackling the blaze, which is only 30 percent contained.
Fire officials say the blaze is growing up to 30 metres a minute. Residents as far as Kamloops - 70 km away - can see the giant plume of smoke.
"It looked like Independence Day yesterday," said Shayne Hainer, one of the residents who fled his home Thursday.
"It's pretty nerve wracking. I'm not coming back until it's done."
The weather is expected to remain warm and dry in the next few days, with temperatures reaching the mid-20s. There is also a risk of thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, the Glenrosa and Rose Valley fires of West Kelowna have been fully contained.
The last of the thousands of residents who had been forced out of their homes last weekend because of the two fires were allowed to return Wednesday night.
However, they are reminded that evacuation alerts remain in place, meaning they could be forced to leave at any time.
